1948 China: The of Two Fates

Author: Liu Tong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: This book uses historical facts to illustrate the changes that occurred from the battlefield to the rear, from the countryside to the cities, from life to the economy, and from public opinion to ideology. Let us revisit the storms and winds China experienced in 1948. If 1947 was a turning point, 1948 was a decisive year. That year, the situation in China underwent earth-shaking changes. In the three major battles of Lianshan, Huaihai, and Beiping conducted successively in the second half of that year, the Nationalist heavy force groups were gradually annihilated by the People's Liberation Army, completely losing their offensive capabilities and turning to seek peace. The Communist Party, meanwhile, became even more determined to cross the Yangtze River and achieve victory across the nation. This book uses historical facts to illustrate the changes that occurred from the battlefield to the rear, from the countryside to the cities, from life to the economy, and from public opinion to ideology. Let us revisit the storms and winds China experienced in 1948. The outcome of the battlefield determines the demise of an old regime and the birth of a new one. However, war is an embodiment of politics, especially the reflection of public sentiment. It is about whether the majority of workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals, and merchants support one side or the other, whether they are willing to follow one toward the light and resist the other leading them into darkness. From the history of 1948, we can see that Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists exhausted all their efforts and employed every means to save their declining regime; while Mao Zedong and the Communist Party he led relied on the people, struggled hard, and won the decisive strategic victory. Let us revisit the storms and winds China experienced in 1948. Use historical facts to illustrate the changes that occurred from the battlefield to the rear, from the countryside to the cities, from life to the economy, and from public opinion to ideology.